pack. it. down.

Here’s the thing about me…I can eat like veteran, 300-pound, “you-want-an-order-of-onion-rings-and-fries-with-that?” truck driver. There is a reason why I’ve downed 3/4 of a sheet cake on a dare and why I once drank a styrofoam cup of sweet and sour sauce for a measly $7.12. Coupled with my insatiable desire to win, my ability to eat has rivaled many a boys, men and yes, even truck drivers.

However, I’ve obviously matured and let go of some of my competitve juices in the name of health. I practice portion control, make sure to get those 5-10 servings of fruits + veggies in a day and adhere to an ‘everythingtarian’ diet. Not only do I feel MUCH better (you don’t even want to know the sounds your stomach can make after devouring that much yellow cake + chocolate frosting), but it has helped me achieve more balance in my life overall.

However (yes, that is the second however), sometimes I still surprise myself at the amount of food I manage to fit in my stomach. Sometimes the stars align perfectly with the fates, creating the perfect atmosphere where yours truly can PACK. IT. DOWN. No shame ladies, no shame.

And so it started this morning, with an innocent looking pair of PB+J toasts.

Coupled with a whole pineapple…

Yes, I said whole pineapple. When it’s fresh and in-season, there’s no stopping at half.

When my breakfast only lasted me a measly 3 hours, I should have predicted it was going to be a foodie-filled day. Around 11am, my stomach was already churning and gurgling for food, and I had one thing on my mind: INDIAN BUFFET.

And once you have INDIAN BUFFET on the mind, there is simple no going back. I can’t think of another place in the entire world where I am happier stuffing my face with delicious food.

(from the top of the plate, going clockwise)

salad

two vegetable samosas (with mint + onion chutney)

two pieces naan

aloo gajar

spinach chana

chicken tikka masala

Don’t know what any of that means? Have no fear! A “Reader’s Request” post all about INDIAN FOOD is in the works. Get excited.

Also get excited because I definitely went back for a 2nd plate – after the requisite 5-minute break, obvs. To fill up and get your money’s worth at buffets, I highly recommend 5-minute breaks between trips. It does wonders for the amount of food you can fit in your stomach.

After a work day lacking major motivation, I grabbed dinner + drinks out with two lovely gents…

Have no fear. Go big or go home is one of the great mottos of my life. And I have a feeling there is no better way of “going big” (and NOT going home…giving up is not an option) than with a Honey Ricotta Cheesecake.

DEVOURED.

After almost four hours of drinking, chatting, laughing and playing board games, I came home a happy, satisfied Holly. I was in bed by midnight and surprisingly not too full at all….in fact, just right.

YUM. I made more chana masala the other night and am currently looking for MORE indian food to make so I am pumped about your indian food post lil lady!

Good effort on the burger as well…in fact I believe that my Wednesday looked a lot like your yesterday: burger and fries for lunch and chana masala for dinner with a dessert of various english chocolate! YES.

Ahhh your food looks soo amazing!! It’s so awesome to see another blogger who can eat! Man, when I was doing competitive swimming and practicing 10 times a week, I would out eat my brother and dad combined, every single night! I bet I still could too haha

I second Katie’s notion, you would melt like Ghee if you saw the amazing Indian cuisines offered on “Curry Hill.” I was first introduced to Indian food through my sister’s husband, whose Eastern Indian. Good lawd, every since the age of 8 (when they started dating) I’ve been spoiled with the amazing feasts at their family get togethers.

Sometimes, you just gotta go for burgers and beers on Fridays. It’s a classic American tradition.

Glad to see you livin’ and eatin’ it up! Have a fabulous remainder to your weekend!

DATS MA GURLLLLL!!!!!!!!!! Or, in more proper terms–That’s my girl!
From that delicious pb & j breakfast to the indian AND Mediterranean food all in one day? Oh my gosh, I heart you big time! When I eat out–those two (besides mexican) are mis favoritas!

And yes. Agreed! Pineapple is too good for words. Whenever my sorority house has it available with breakfast I always heat it up WITH the oatmeal and mayjuh peanut butter spoonage and it just makes me drool every time! True story. It’s super refreshing when cold though, I gotta get back to doing that too!!

Glad you had a fun night out with yo’ boys! GET EXCITED FOR THE SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER!!!! Love youuuuu.

If it’s possible, I love you 5 times more after this post. You go, girl. I can eat about 1/3 of that and then feel like a hungover trucker the next day. And I love that you went for the cheesecake after the organic burger–gotta keep it classy ;-)

I am glad you are beasting delicious food! Totally not the same as wolfing down a box of frosted flakes in front of the tv and not even tasting them. I’m the same way! I have to cook half a butternut squash at once because I will eat the whole thing! And I could easily eat 3 apples in a row no prob.

Oh girl, we ALL HAVE THESE DAYS and I can’t tell you how awesome I think your attitude about it is. BE PROUD of how amazing your body is to enjoy all these wonderful foods. I have days where I feel like I eat every single hour of the day and then others where I am just not hungry at all. It always always balances out in the end. Trust that and you will always be healthy! :)

I too have had days like this!! I have been known to devour almost an entire pizza by myself and shamefully also almost devoured a homemade pecan pie (because the fresh pecans come out of the tree in my back yard, were shelled by me, and the pie was yes, made by me, good stuff). Glad you enjoyed the day, they are definately few and far between!

YES! I can totally eat like a champ too :) That Indian buffet looks ah-mazing!!! I went for Indian last weekend and ate 2 gigantic plates full…hello Indian food baby! I grew up eating Indian food (i’m Indian) and I tend to go overboard on it on the rare occasions I eat it now.

That’s okay, Holly. This is the reason why I love ya. You are not a teeny meeny 5 mini meal eater. You are real, and you can stuff it in…which I think is so admirable and almost rare nowadays! Haha! I’ve got a stomach of steel, too, so we need to eat together, and shock the hell out of people. :-)

Now I want to go to an Indian buffet! Actually, I have been wanting to go for weeks, no months, now, and your plate brought it all back…. All your eats sound & look delicious! I’m so glad you felt just right! :)

so happy you had a fun time! and a whole pineapple? that’s been known to give a toddler a diaper rash :) that’s your motherhood once upon a time tip…it’s a highly acidic fruit and dont let your kid eat a whole one or you’ll pay the price later! haha!

AMEN girl! After quite a long journey, I’m finally learning that it’s OKAY that one meal does not satisfy me for long…in fact during my vacation in mexico, I think my fam was quite annoyed when I kept asking when the bread basket was coming back around at dinner…

OMG you and I could go toe to toe in a bloggie eating competitions. Seriously I have taken down half a Giordano’s extra large deep dish before (the hubs took down the other half). I’m not sure I should be proud of this….

I really think we are the same person.
I totally pull off the SHE ate THAT?? thing, and I out-eat many boys. I’m with you one the wait-5-mins-at-a-buffet-so-you-can-eat-more, the giant burgers, and the dessert anyways! Girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do…
Oh, and I, too, have eaten a sheet cake on a dare before. Yup.

So I’ve had this window open to comment for like EVER, but now I forgot what I wanted to say. Anwho, you make me laugh out loud lady, every single time I read. Just thought I’d throw that out there. Love ya and hope you are doing well!